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Hamilton sets Minors stolen-base record

Hamilton sets Minors stolen-base record

Billy Hamilton's third stolen base on Tuesday gave him 146 for the season.

By Quinn Roberts
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MLB.com |

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Reds prospect Billy Hamilton surpassed former Major Leaguer Vince Coleman's 29-year-old pro baseball single-season record for stolen bases in a season on Tuesday, when Hamilton swiped his 146th bag.

Playing in a doubleheader Tuesday night for Double-A Pensacola, Hamilton stole three bases in the first three innings of the Blue Wahoos' first contest against the Montgomery Biscuits at Pensacola Bayfront Stadium to shatter the record. Hamilton then added another in the eighth inning during the first game of the twin bill to bring his season total to 147. He did not reach base in the second game.

After Hamilton broke the record, the crowd cheered in celebration, while the Blue Wahoos came out to the top step of the dugout to acknowledge the feat. Manager Jim Riggleman hugged Hamilton, before the team presented him with the base to commemorate breaking Coleman's record. Hamilton's mother was also in the stands.

Hamilton, 21, is Cincinnati's No. 1 prospect, according to MLB.com and has spent the season with Class A Bakersfield and Pensacola and has nearly as many stolen bases (147) as hits (150).

Hamilton has stolen at least one base in 86 of 120 games across the two levels and has recorded 41 games in which he's swiped multiple bags, including nine three-steal performances and four four-steal outings. He set a career high with five stolen bases in Bakersfield's 7-6 win over Lake Elsinore on June 16.

Over the past two years, Hamilton has stolen 249 bases in 255 games between Class A Dayton, Bakersfield and Pensacola. He was a second-round pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft.

Coleman set the record while with Class A Macon in 1983. He went on to steal more than 100 bases in each of his first three seasons with the Cardinals and recorded 752 stolen bases in a 13-year career, placing him sixth on baseball's all-time list.

Quinn Roberts is a reporter for MLB.com This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.